U.S. patent application number 12/317093 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-25 for apparatus and method for trimming.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Min-su Kang, Eun-Young Kim.
Application Number | 20090161961 12/317093 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40788713 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090161961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Eun-Young ; et
al. |
June 25, 2009 |
Apparatus and method for trimming
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for processing a digital image are
provided. More particularly, apparatuses and methods for trimming
an image, whereby a composition of the image is located and trimmed
from a displayed image, are provided. The apparatuses may include a
digital signal processing unit which retrieves composition
information similar to the composition information of a displayed
image, and trims the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding
to an area of the image matching the retrieved composition
information.
Inventors: |
Kim; Eun-Young;
(Changwon-city, KR) ; Kang; Min-su;
(Changwon-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP;ATTN: PATENT DOCKET DEPT.
191 N. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 3700
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
Changwon-city
KR
|
Family ID: |
40788713 |
Appl. No.: |
12/317093 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/195 ;
382/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/23218 20180801;
H04N 1/3873 20130101; H04N 5/23229 20130101; H04N 5/23219 20130101;
H04N 5/2621 20130101; H04N 5/232 20130101; H04N 5/23293 20130101;
H04N 5/23296 20130101; H04N 5/232945 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/195 ;
382/282 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; G06K 9/20 20060101 G06K009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0135737 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for trimming an image, comprising a digital signal
processing unit retrieving composition information similar to
composition information of a displayed image and trimming the image
such that an area of the image matches the retrieved composition
information, thereby obtaining a trimmed image.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is a live
view image or a stored image.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing
unit displays the displayed image and the trimmed image
simultaneously.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing
unit comprises: a composition information extraction unit
extracting composition information from the image; a database (DB)
storing composition information of arbitrary images; a retrieval
unit retrieving composition information from the DB similar to the
extracted composition information of the image; a frame generation
unit indicating the predetermined area of the image matching the
retrieved composition information; and a trimming unit trimming the
generated frame.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the composition information
extraction unit extracts composition information through face
recognition if the image is an image of a person.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the composition information
extraction unit extracts composition information through edge
detection if the image is a background image.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the
composition information extracted by the composition information
extraction unit and the composition information retrieved from the
DB is displayed on a part of the live view image.
8. An apparatus for trimming an image as a digital image processing
apparatus comprising: a composition information extraction unit
extracting composition information from a live view image by
responsive to receiving a first signal of a shutter-release button;
a composition information DB storing composition information of
arbitrary images; a retrieval unit retrieving composition
information from the composition information DB similar to the
extracted composition information of the live view image; a frame
generation unit indicating an area of the live view image matching
the retrieved composition information; and a trimming unit trimming
the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the area
responsive to receiving a second signal of the shutter-release
button.
9. An apparatus for trimming an image, comprising: a composition
information extraction unit extracting composition information from
a reproduced image responsive to receiving a first signal of a
shutter-release button; a composition information DB storing
composition information of images; a retrieval unit retrieving
composition information from the composition information DB similar
to the extracted composition information of the reproduced image; a
frame generation unit indicating an area of the reproduced image
matching the retrieved composition information; and a trimming unit
trimming the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the
area responsive to receiving a second signal of the shutter-release
button.
10. A method of trimming an image, the method comprising:
retrieving composition information similar to composition
information of an image; and trimming the image to obtain a trimmed
image corresponding to an area of the image matching the retrieved
composition information.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the
displayed image and the trimmed image simultaneously.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the image is a live view image
or a stored image.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the retrieving of the
composition information comprises: extracting composition
information from the image; and retrieving composition information
from a DB storing composition information of arbitrary images, the
retrieved composition information being the similar to the
extracted composition information of the image.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the extracted
composition information and the composition information retrieved
from the composition information DB is displayed on a part of the
live view image.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein, in the retrieving of the
composition information, if the image is an image of a person, the
composition information is extracted through face recognition, and
if the image is a background image, the composition information is
extracted through edge detection.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the trimming the image to
obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the predetermined area of
the image comprises: indicating an area of the live view image
matching the retrieved composition information by a frame; and
trimming the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the
frame.
17. A method of trimming an image, the method comprising:
extracting composition information from a live view image
responsive to receiving a first signal of a shutter-release button;
retrieving composition information from a composition information
DB storing composition information of arbitrary images, the
retrieved composition information being the most similar to the
extracted composition information of the live view image;
indicating an area of the live view image matching the retrieved
composition information; and trimming the image to obtain a trimmed
image corresponding to an area responsive to receiving a second
signal of the shutter-release button.
18. A method of trimming an image, the method comprising:
extracting composition information from a reproduced image by
inputting a first shutter-release button; retrieving composition
information from a composition information DB storing composition
information of images, the retrieved composition information being
the similar to the extracted composition information of the
reproduced image; indicating am area of the reproduced image
matching the retrieved composition information; and trimming the
image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the area
responsive to receiving a second signal of the shutter-release
button.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0135737, filed on Dec. 21, 2007 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for
processing a digital image. More particularly, to apparatuses and
methods for trimming an image, whereby composition information
similar to composition information of a displayed image is
retrieved and used to trim the displayed image.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] After an image is captured by a digital image processing
apparatus, if the composition of the image is not satisfactory when
reproduced, a trimming function for cutting a part of the image can
be executed. The trimming function allows a part of a stored image
to be stored according to a user's selection. Accordingly, trimming
is mainly used when only parts of an image are needed or when parts
of an image are required to be enlarged and stored.
[0006] However, alternative compositions that may improve the
composition of an image are not directly provided in a digital
image processing apparatus. Producing a good composition of an
image is a difficult job for an ordinary user who is not an expert.
Although a user can change the composition of a captured image by
using an editing function, the changed image itself, which is
directly changed by the user, may not have an optimized
composition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for
trimming an image, where composition information similar to the
composition of a displayed image is retrieved from a database (DB)
storing composition information, and the displayed image is trimmed
using the retrieved composition information.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided an apparatus for trimming an image, including a digital
signal processing unit retrieving composition information similar
to composition information of a displayed image and trimming the
image such that an area of the image matches the retrieved
composition information, thereby obtaining a trimmed image.
[0009] In an embodiment, the displayed image may be a live view
image or an arbitrary stored image.
[0010] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit may
display the displayed image and the trimmed image
simultaneously.
[0011] In embodiments, the digital signal processing unit may
include: a composition information extraction unit configured to
extract composition information from the image; a database (DB)
storing composition information ; a retrieval unit configured to
retrieve composition information from the DB similar to the
extracted composition information of the image; a frame generation
unit configured to indicate the area of the image matching the
retrieved composition information; and a trimming unit configured
to trim the image.
[0012] In embodiments, the composition information extraction unit
may extract composition information through face recognition if the
image is an image of a person.
[0013] In embodiments, the composition information extraction unit
may extract composition information through edge detection if the
image is a background image.
[0014] In embodiments, the composition information extracted by the
composition information extraction unit may be displayed on a part
of the live view image.
[0015] In embodiments, the composition information retrieved from
the DB is displayed on a part of the live view image.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided an apparatus for trimming a digital image including: a
composition information extraction unit configured to extract
composition information from a live view image responsive to
receiving a first signal of a shutter-release button; a composition
information DB storing composition information of images; a
retrieval unit configured to retrieve composition information from
the composition information DB similar to the extracted composition
information of the live view image; a frame generation unit
configured to indicate an area of the live view image matching the
retrieved composition information; and a trimming unit configured
to trim the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to the
matched area responsive to receiving a second signal of the
shutter-release button.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided an apparatus for trimming an image, including: a
composition information extraction unit configured to extract
composition information from an arbitrary reproduced image
responsive to receiving a first signal of a shutter-release button;
a composition information DB storing composition information of
images; a retrieval unit configured to retrieve composition
information from the composition information DB similar to the
extracted composition information of the reproduced image; a frame
generation unit configured to indicate an area of the reproduced
image matching the retrieved composition information; and a
trimming unit configured to trim the image to obtain a trimmed
image corresponding to the matched area responsive to a second
signal of the shutter-release button.
[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a method of trimming an image, the method
including: retrieving composition information similar to
composition information of an image; and trimming the image to
obtain a trimmed image corresponding to an area of the image
matching the retrieved composition information.
[0019] The method may further include displaying the displayed
image and the trimmed image simultaneously.
[0020] In embodiments, the image may be a live view image or a
stored image.
[0021] In an embodiment, the step of retrieving of the composition
information may include: extracting composition information from
the image; and retrieving composition information from a DB storing
composition information of images, where the retrieved composition
information is similar to the extracted composition information of
the image.
[0022] In an embodiment, the composition information extracted from
the image may be displayed on a part of the live view image.
[0023] In an embodiment, the composition information retrieved from
the composition information DB may be displayed on a part of the
live view image.
[0024] In an embodiment, the step of retrieving of the composition
information, may include using face recognition, and/or edge
detection.
[0025] In an embodiment, the step of trimming the image to obtain a
trimmed image corresponding to an area of the image matching the
retrieved composition information may include: indicating the area
of the live view image matching the retrieved composition
information by a frame; and trimming the image to obtain a trimmed
image corresponding to the frame.
[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a method of trimming an image, the method
including: extracting composition information from a live view
image responsive to receiving a first signal of a shutter-release
button; retrieving composition information from a composition
information DB storing composition information of images, the
retrieved composition information being similar to the extracted
composition information of the live view image; indicating a an
area of the live view image matching the retrieved composition
information; and trimming the image to obtain a trimmed image
corresponding to the area matching the retrieved composition
information responsive to receiving a second signal of the
shutter-release button.
[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a method of trimming an image, the method
including: extracting composition information from a reproduced
image responsive to a first shutter-release button; retrieving
composition information from a composition information DB storing
composition information of images, the retrieved composition
information being the similar to the extracted composition
information of the reproduced image; indicating an area of the
reproduced image matching the retrieved composition information;
and trimming the image to obtain a trimmed image corresponding to
the area of the reproduced image matching the retrieved composition
information responsive to a second signal of the shutter-release
button is input.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the
front and top sides of a digital image processing apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating an example of the
backside of the digital image processing apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
structure of an apparatus for trimming an image, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining an example of a composition
information extraction unit of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an
composition information stored in a composition information DB in
the apparatus for trimming an image illustrated in FIG. 3,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of composition
information detected in the apparatus for trimming an image
illustrated in FIG. 3 on a part of an image, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an area of an
image matching composition information indicated by a frame in the
apparatus for trimming an image illustrated in FIG. 3, according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image
obtained by trimming an image indicated by a frame in the apparatus
for trimming an image illustrated in FIG. 3, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method of
trimming an image, according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0038] FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method
of trimming an image, according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] The present invention will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments of the invention are shown.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the
front and top sides of a digital image processing apparatus. A
signal from a power button 13 is input in order to provide power to
and operate the digital image processing apparatus. A
shutter-release button 11 is opened and closed in order to expose a
charged coupled device (CCD) to light for a predetermined time, and
records an image on the CCD by appropriately exposing an object to
light by using an iris (not shown)
[0041] The shutter-release button 11 generates first and second
image photographing signals according to an input from a
photographer. If a first signal of the shutter-release button 11 is
input as a half-shutter signal, the digital image processing
apparatus focuses and adjusts the amount of light. In this case, if
an object is in focus, a green light of a display unit 23 is turned
on. If the apparatus is focused and the amount of light is adjusted
by the first signal of the shutter-release button 11, a second
signal of the shutter-release button 11 is input as a complete
shutter signal, thereby photographing an image.
[0042] A flash 15 momentarily emits bright light when an image is
captured in a dark place. Flash modes may include automatic flash,
compulsory emission, emission prohibition, red eye reduction, slow
synchronization and the like.
[0043] An auxiliary light 17 supplies light to an object so that
the digital image processing apparatus can focus quickly,
accurately, and automatically when the amount of light is not
sufficient or when an image is captured at night.
[0044] A lens unit 19 receives light from an external light source
to process an image.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating an example of the
backside of the digital image processing apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the digital image processing apparatus
includes buttons B1.about.B14, a wide-angle-zoom button (21W), a
telephoto-zoom button (21T), and a display unit 23.
[0046] According to an input of the wide-angle-zoom button (21W) or
the telephoto-zoom button (21T), the angle of view is narrowed or
widened. In particular, the wide-angle-zoom button (21W) and
telephoto-zoom button (21T) are used when the size of a selected
exposed area is desired to be changed. If a wide-angle-zoom button
(21W) signal is input, the size of the selected exposed area is
decreased, and if a telephoto-zoom button (21T) signal is input,
the size of the selected exposed area is increased.
[0047] The buttons B1.about.B14 are disposed in a row and a column
adjacent to the display unit 23. Each of the buttons B1.about.B14
disposed in a row and a column adjacent to the display unit 23 may
have a touch sensor (not shown) or a contact switch (not
shown).
[0048] That is, a touch sensor may be disposed in each of the
buttons B1.about.B14. In this case, while the buttons B1.about.B7
of row or the buttons B8.about.B14 of the column are touched, an
arbitrary value (for example, a color or brightness) from main menu
items can be selected or sub menu icons included in a main menu
icon can be activated by moving upward/downward/left/right.
[0049] Also, a contact switch may be disposed in each of the
buttons B1.about.B14, and a main menu icon and a sub menu icon can
be directly selected, thereby executing a corresponding function.
The touch sensor may require a relatively weaker touch than that
required by the contact switch, and the contact switch input
requires a relatively stronger touch than that of the touch sensor
input.
[0050] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
structure of an image trimming apparatus, according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the image
trimming apparatus according to the current embodiment includes a
display unit 23, a user input unit 31, an image pickup unit 35, an
image processing unit 35, a storage unit 37, and a digital signal
processing unit 39.
[0051] The user input unit 31 may further include, referring back
to FIG. 2, a shutter release button 11 which is opened and closed
in order to expose the CCD to light for a predetermined time, a
power button 13 input for providing power, a wide-angle-zoom button
(21W) and a telephoto-zoom button (21T) for widening and narrowing
the angle of view, and buttons B1.about.B14 disposed in a row and a
column adjacent to a display unit 23 having touch sensors or
contact switches. The image pickup unit 33 may include a shutter, a
lens unit, an iris, a CCD, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
all of which are not shown. The shutter is a device for adjusting
the amount of light for exposure in connection with the iris. The
lens unit receives light from an external light source and
processes an image. In this case, according to the degree of
opening and closure of the iris, the iris adjusts the amount of
incident light. The degree of opening and closure is controlled by
the digital signal processing unit 39.
[0052] The CCD accumulates the amount of light input through the
lens unit and according to the accumulated amount of light, an
image captured in the lens unit is output in synchronization with a
vertical synchronization signal. Acquisition of an image in the
digital image processing apparatus is performed by the CCD which
converts light reflected from an object into an electrical signal.
In order to obtain a color image by using the CCD, a color filter
is required, and generally, a filter (not shown) referred to as a
color filter array (CFA) is employed. A CFA allows light of only
one color to pass through one pixel and has a structure having a
regular array. According to the array structure, the CFA has a
variety of shapes. The ADC converts an analog image signal output
from the CCD into a digital signal.
[0053] The image processing unit 35 in this example processes the
signal of the digitized raw data so that an image of the digitized
raw data can be displayed. The image processing unit 35 in this
example removes a black level caused by a dark current occurring in
the CCD and CFA. The image processing unit 35 in this example
performs gamma correction for encoding information according to
nonlinearity of human vision. The image processing unit 35 in this
example performs CFA interpolation in which a Bayer pattern
implemented with RGRG lines and GBGB lines of the gamma-corrected
predetermined data is interpolated. The image processing unit 35 in
this example transforms the corrected RGB signal into a YUV signal,
performs edge compensation by which the Y signal is filtered with a
high pass filter to make an image clearer, performs color
correction for correcting the color values of U and V signals by
using a standard color coordinate system, and removes noise in
these signals. The image processing unit 35 in this example
compresses and processes the Y, U, and V signals, in which noise is
removed, thereby generating a Joint Photographic Experts Group
(JPEG) file. The generated JPEG file in this example is displayed
in the display unit 23, and stored in the storage unit 37. All
these operations of the image processing unit 35 in this example
are controlled by the digital signal processing unit 39.
[0054] The digital signal processing unit 39 retrieves composition
information similar to the composition information of a displayed
image, and trims an area of the image matching the retrieved
optimum composition information. In this case, the displayed image
may be a live view image or an image stored in the storage unit 37.
In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39 retrieves
the optimum composition information similar to the composition
information of a displayed image.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 3 again, the digital signal processing
unit 39 in this example controls image trimming and includes a
composition information extraction unit 39-1, a composition
information DB 39-2, a retrieval unit 39-3, a frame generation unit
39-4, a trimming unit 39-5, and a control unit 39-6.
[0056] In this example, the control unit 39-6 controls the
composition information extraction unit 39-1 which extracts
composition information from a displayed live view image or from an
image selected from the storage unit 37, which may be reproduced on
the display unit 23. If the displayed image is an image of a
person, the composition information extraction unit 39-1 may
extract composition information through face recognition, and if
the displayed image is a background image, the composition
information extraction unit 39-1 may extract composition
information through edge detection.
[0057] If the displayed image is an image of a person as
illustrated in the example of FIG. 4(A-1), the composition
information extraction unit 39-1 may apply a face recognition
algorithm to the image, thereby extracting composition information.
The composition information extraction unit 39-1 may detect the
size, location, and direction of a face in the displayed image. The
size of the face may be detected according to the color or edges.
The location of the face may be calculated according to the
distance between the center part of an extracted face and a preset
center part of the display unit 23. The direction of the face may
be detected in the form of a triangle formed by the eyes and mouth
from the extracted face. The result of face recognition of the face
image illustrated in FIG. 4(A-1) is shown in FIG. 4 (A-2), and
composition information extracted by the composition information
extraction unit 39-1 is illustrated in FIG. 4(A-3).
[0058] In an embodiment, if the displayed image is a background
image, for example the background image illustrated in FIG. 4(B-1),
the composition information extraction unit 39-1 may extract
composition information through applying edge detection to the
image. In an embodiment, the composition information extraction
unit 39-1 extracts edges by applying a high pass filter to the
displayed image. The result of edge detection of the background
image illustrated in FIG. 4(B-1) is shown in FIG. 4(B-2), and the
composition information extraction unit 39-1 may extract the
composition information illustrated in FIG. 4(B-3).
[0059] The composition information detected by the composition
information extraction unit 39-1 may be displayed together with the
displayed image as illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 4(A-2) and
4(B-2), and/or may be displayed on a part of the displayed image,
for example, as another screen with a small size as illustrated in
FIG. 6.
[0060] In the composition information DB 39-2, composition
information of images is stored. As illustrated in the examples of
FIG. 5, the composition information stored in the composition
information DB 39-2 may include composition information that may be
used to match composition information of an image and then
optionally to trim the image.
[0061] In an embodiment, the control unit 39-6 controls, the
retrieval unit 39-3 to retrieve composition information from the
composition information DB 39-2 similar to the composition
information extracted by the composition information extraction
unit 39-1. The composition information retrieved by the retrieval
unit 39-3 may be displayed on part of the displayed image as
illustrated in the example of FIG. 6, or the composition
information extracted by the composition information extraction
unit 39-1 and the composition information retrieved from the
composition information DB 39-2 may be displayed at the same
time.
[0062] In an embodiment, the control unit 39-6 controls the frame
generation unit 39-4 to indicate as a frame an area of an image
matching the composition information retrieved by the retrieval
unit 39-3. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the optimum composition
information retrieved by the retrieval unit 39-3 applied to a
displayed image and indicated by a frame.
[0063] In an embodiment, the control unit 39-6 controls the
trimming unit 39-5 to trim the frame generated by the frame
generation unit 39-4. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the result
obtained by trimming an image in which composition information is
indicated by a frame.
[0064] In an embodiment of the present invention, the image trimmed
by the trimming unit 39-5 and the displayed image may be stored
separately. For example, when the displayed image is a live view
image, if the first signal from the shutter-release button 11 is
received, the composition information of the live view is
extracted, and a frame is generated by extracting composition
information similar to the extracted composition information from
the composition information DB 39-2. Then, if the second signal
from the shutter-release button 11 is received, the generated frame
is trimmed and stored, and at the same time, the untrimmed original
live view image is captured and stored. Then, according to the
user's selection, the trimmed image and the untrimmed image can be
displayed simultaneously and compared with each other.
[0065] In an embodiment, when the displayed image is an image
stored in the storage unit 37, the composition information of a
reproduced image is extracted using the buttons B1.about.B14 having
corresponding preset functions, and a frame is generated by
extracting composition information similar to the composition
information extracted from the composition information DB 39-2. In
an embodiment, the generated frame is then trimmed and separately
stored. In an embodiment, the previous reproduced image is not
deleted. Then, according to the user's selection, the trimmed image
and the untrimmed image can be displayed simultaneously and
compared with each other.
[0066] In an embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined
composition selection mode may be provided in a digital image
processing apparatus. In the predetermined composition selection
mode, if an image is displayed, the composition is automatically
selected, a frame is generated, and a function for trimming
according to the generated frame can be provided.
[0067] In an embodiment, the composition information DB 39-2 may
provide not only one composition information item similar to the
extracted composition information, but also provide a plurality of
similar composition information items that can be selected by the
user.
[0068] In an embodiment, the number of items to be trimmed is not
limited to one. Assuming that N optimum compositions detected in
the composition DB 39-2 corresponding to one image exist, N images
can be generated and trimming can be performed using a variety of
methods. That is, an image can be trimmed in a variety of ways and
stored separately.
[0069] A method of trimming an image according to an embodiment of
the present invention will now be explained in more detail with
respect to FIGS. 9 and 10. The image trimming method according to
the current embodiment may be performed by a digital image
processing apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 3. A main algorithm of
the method may be executed by the digital signal processing unit 39
with help from peripheral elements in the apparatus.
[0070] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of
trimming an image, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] In an embodiment, if a user operates the digital image
processing apparatus and selects a photographing mode, a live view
image is displayed on the display unit 23, and the user can select
the photographing composition while watching the displayed live
view and the user may input a first signal of the shutter-release
button 11 in operation 901.
[0072] The digital signal processing unit 39 receives the first
signal of the shutter-release button 11 and extracts composition
information from the live view image in operation 903. If the
displayed image is an image of a person as illustrated in FIG. 4A,
the digital signal processing unit 39 may extract composition
information through face recognition, and if the displayed image is
a background image as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the digital signal
processing unit 39 may extract composition information through edge
detection.
[0073] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39
displays the extracted composition information on a part of the
live view image in operation 905. The digital signal processing
unit 39 may display the detected composition information together
with the displayed image as illustrated in FIGS. 4(A-3) and 4(B-3)
or may display the detected composition information as another
screen on part of the displayed image as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0074] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39 may
then retrieve composition information similar to the composition
information of the current live view image from the internal
composition information DB 39-2 in operation 907. As illustrated in
FIG. 5, a variety of composition information items with which the
composition information of the current live view image can be
corrected are stored in the composition information DB 39-2.
[0075] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39
indicates an area on the current live view image matching the
composition information retrieved from the composition information
DB 39-2 and indicated by a frame in operation 909. FIG. 7
illustrates an example of the composition information retrieved by
the digital signal processing unit 39 applied to a displayed image
and indicated by a frame.
[0076] In an embodiment the digital signal processing unit 39 may
then determine whether or not a signal of the second
shutter-release button 11 is received in operation 911.
[0077] If the second signal of the shutter-release button 11 is
received, then some embodiments can be broken down to two cases.
First, if the second signal of the shutter-release button 11 is
received, the digital signal processing unit 39 trims the image
indicated by a frame and stores the result. FIG. 8 illustrates an
example of the result obtained by trimming an image in which
composition information is indicated by a frame.
[0078] The second case will now be explained with reference to
operations 913 through 917.
[0079] If the second signal of the shutter-release button 11 is
received, the digital signal processing unit 39 stores the live
view image displayed when the first signal of the shutter-release
button 11 is received, and at the same time trims the image
indicated by the frame and stores the trimmed image in operation
913.
[0080] Then, when the trimmed image is to be compared with the
stored live view image in operation 915, the trimmed image and the
live view image are displayed simultaneously on the display unit 23
in operation 917.
[0081] In addition and/or alternatively, the composition
information DB 39-2 may provide not only one composition
information item similar to the extracted composition information,
but also provide a plurality of similar composition information
items that can be selected by the user.
[0082] In addition, the number of items to be trimmed is not
limited to one. Assuming that N compositions detected in the
composition DB 39-2 corresponding to one image exist, N images can
be generated and trimming can be performed using a variety of
methods. That is, an image can be trimmed in a variety of ways and
stored separately.
[0083] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method
of trimming an image, according to another embodiment of the
present invention and illustrates a method of trimming a reproduced
image selected from the storage unit 37.
[0084] In an embodiment, if the user operates the digital image
processing apparatus and selects a reproduction mode, the selected
stored image is reproduced on the display unit 23 in operation
1001.
[0085] In an embodiment, if the selected image is reproduced, the
digital signal processing unit 39 extracts composition information
from the reproduced image in operation 1003. In an embodiment, if
the displayed image is an image of a person as illustrated in FIG.
4A, the digital signal processing unit 39 extracts composition
information through face recognition. In an embodiment, if the
displayed image is a background image as illustrated in FIG. 4B,
the digital signal processing unit 39 extracts composition
information through edge detection.
[0086] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39
displays the extracted composition information on a part of the
reproduced image in operation 1005. The digital signal processing
unit 39 may display the detected composition information together
with the displayed image as illustrated in FIGS. 4(A-3) and 4(B-3)
or may display the detected composition information as another
screen on a part of the displayed image as illustrated in FIG.
6.
[0087] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39 may
then retrieve composition information similar to the composition
information of the current reproduced image from the internal
composition information DB 39-2 in operation 1007. As illustrated
in the example of FIG. 5, a variety of composition information
items for changing the composition information of the current
reproduced image are stored in the composition information DB 39-2.
The changed composition information of the current reproduced image
may improve or correct the composition information of the current
reproduced image.
[0088] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39
indicates an area on the current reproduced image matching the
composition information retrieved from the composition information
DB 39-2 and indicated by a frame in operation 1009. FIG. 7
illustrates an example of the composition information retrieved by
the digital signal processing unit 39 being applied to a displayed
image and indicated by a frame.
[0089] In an embodiment, the digital signal processing unit 39 may
then receive inputs of, for example, the buttons B1.about.B14
having preset trimming functions or the shutter-release button 11
in operation 1011, and trims only an area indicated by a frame and
stores the image in operation 1013. In this case, the trimmed image
may be separately from the reproduced image. That is, the
reproduced image is not deleted. However, according to the user's
selection, the reproduced image may be deleted. FIG. 8 illustrates
an example of the result obtained by trimming an image in which
optimum composition information is indicated by a frame.
[0090] In some embodiments, the method may end with operation 1013.
Some embodiments, continue with operations 1015 and 1017.
[0091] In an embodiment, when the trimmed image is to be compared
with the reproduced image in operation 1015, the trimmed image and
the reproduced image are displayed simultaneously on the display
unit 23 in operation 1017.
[0092] In another embodiment, the composition information DB 39-2
may provide not only one composition information item similar to
the extracted composition information, but also provide a plurality
of similar optimum composition information items that the user can
select.
[0093] In an embodiment, the number of items to be trimmed is not
limited to one. Assuming that N matching compositions detected in
the composition DB 39-2 corresponding to one image exist, N images
can be generated and trimming can be performed using a variety of
methods. That is, an identical image can be trimmed in a variety of
ways and stored separately.
[0094] In an embodiment, composition information similar to the
composition of a displayed image is retrieved from a DB, and based
on the composition information, the displayed image is trimmed,
thereby obtaining the optimum composition of an image, and
maximizing satisfaction of a user.
[0095] The present invention can also be embodied as computer
readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The
computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that
can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system.
Examples of the computer readable recording medium include
read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,
magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and
carrier waves (such as data transmission through the Internet).
[0096] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the following claims. The preferred embodiments should be
considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by
the detailed description of the invention but by the appended
claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as
being included in the present invention.
* * * * *